Petersburg can seek role of Northern Europe’s capital

December 29, 2011, 15:00 UTC+3The city has “all necessary for that – traditions, scientific and educational establishments, production capacities,” the governor emphasized

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ST. PETERSBURG, December 29 (Itar-Tass) — St. Petersburg, Russia’s second biggest city and the northernmost city of Europe, “can attain the level of a global city, seek the role of the capital of Northern Europe, and become it in due time,” Governor Georgy Poltavchenko told Tass on Thursday.

“Petersburg is the centre of north-western Russia,” the governor stressed. “This is determined not only by geopolitical conditions and our history, but also by a very strong industrial, scientific and intellectual potential of the city,” Poltavchenko said.

Russia’s WTO accession “makes us put stakes on raising competitiveness of goods and services, developing small and medium-size businesses, creating high-tech productions, advancing innovations as well as training and re-training personnel,” he stressed. Cooperation with numerous foreign partners as well as with Russian regions develops in that and other priority directions.

Petersburg is an initiator of many international projects in the Baltic Sea region, in particular projects for environmental protection, the development of transport and logistics, an expansion of cooperation in tourism, education and culture.

“Making our city an international centre for the development of the Arctic Region and its natural resources could become a next step towards stepping up the role of St. Petersburg in Northern Europe,” he said.

The city has “all necessary for that – traditions, scientific and educational establishments, production capacities,” the governor emphasized. Early in December the city hosted the international conference Arctic – territory of friendship and cooperation. Guests from Northern Europe welcomed Arctic initiatives of the city with big interest, Poltavchenko stressed.